Networking is about the other person first. Remember that. Its not about what you can get from them. Its about what you can do for them.
Why? When we network, we are creating professional relationships that teach us information about that persons job title, company, and company culture. We learn if they would be a future client or vendor of ours. We cultivate that relationship over time to make sure we have all the information we need to make informed decisions down the road.
When the time comes for help, we can then ask for help with a project, sale, or a job referral.
If you have worked with the individual before, never burn bridges. You never know when a situation will arise that this contact may help you. It could be a job interview. It could be a sale that will help you reach to your goal.
When reaching out to a new person that you don’t know. Make your you introduce yourself. Explain why you would like to connect with them. Don’t just use the canned text introduction. Make it personal. You just might be glad you did! Make it a great day!
HR People Wrangler 